FRED COUPLES has confirmed as a starter for the 2010 Australian Open to be played at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney.

The popular American will add a huge amount of interest to the tournament and will join John Daly, Greg Norman, Geoff Ogilvy and defending champion Adam Scott in what is shaping as a stellar field.

Let’s hope the 50 year old actually makes it this year after pulling out last year because of a back problem.

Couples is currently enjoying an outstanding maiden season on the US Champions Tour and will help draw the crowds when the championship tees-off at The Lakes from December 2 to 5.

The former US Masters champion will be vying for prize money totalling $1.5 million and for the second successive season the open will be the penultimate leg on the new OneAsia Tour.

Announcing the signing today, NSW Minister for Major Events Kevin Greene said Sydney is synonymous with the Australian Open, a flagship event of our great sporting nation, first played in Sydney in 1904.

“To have one of golf’s most respected players Fred Couples playing this year is an honour for Sydney and this historic tournament.

“Together with Golf Australia we have a vision to transform the Australian Open into the pre-eminent golf tournament on OneAsia ,” Minister Greene said.

Said Couples: “I am very much looking forward to playing in the Australian Open in particular The Lakes Golf Club. I have not been to Sydney for some time and look forward to visiting this magnificent city once again.”

Known the world over as “Boom boom” because of the huge drives he hits with his effortless and much admired swing, Couples will be competing against his 2009 Presidents Cup captain rival – Greg Norman.

Tickets for the Australian Open go on sale from today and can be purchased through Ticketek by phoning 13 28 49.

THE first stage of Australia’s new golf handicapping system will now commence on Friday April 9.

Golf Australia has announced the new start date, saying the initial package will only include the implementation of the USGA “Rolling Sample” handicap method and the removal of CCR for men’s handicapping.

The full implementation of the US “Slope” system cannot begin till all courses have been individually rated, and that will probably not be completed till sometime next year.

Other parts of the new system will be introduced later in the year.

Under the Rolling Sample Method, which will also apply to women’s handicaps, the average of the best 10 of a golfer’s previous 20 round is taken.

This figure is then multiplied by 0.96 to give the current handicap.

GA says the system, used both in the US and Europe, provides a better representation of a player’s current playing ability and along with the Slope system is more portable between courses.

Golf Clubs on Golf Link and players need do nothing different to prepare for the changes as all relevant figures and scores will be recalculated and will automatically appear (touch wood) when the system switches over at 9 am on April 9.

For the background to the changes see our original story Australia to

Adopt US Handicap System.

For details of the Rolling Sample system see this GA explanation.

Golf Handicap Changes Q & A Published March 19, 2010

LEADING senior golfer Stefan Albinski has won the inaugural Australian Senior Amateur Ranking System Gold Medal.

The Sydney golfer cemented his place at the top of Australian senior amateur men’s golf by taking the title, which is a year long competition including 15 events that has replaced the old Australian Senior Order of Merit (AUSOOM) system.

The new system, introduced by Golf Australia last year, includes over six categories of players and determines Australia’s best Men, Women, Boys’, Girls’, Senior Men and Senior Women golfers.

Albinski won six events in the Senior section (over 55), including four state titles and culminating in his victory at the Australian Senior Matchplay Championship last month. That win saw him take the overall title from Queenslander Grahame MacDonald.

Albinski has been dominating senior amateur golf since he qualified and began competing in 2008, winning the Australian Senior Amateur Championship in April that year at his first attempt.

Silver medal winner MacDonald also had a great year, winning the Northern Territory Seniors, placing second in the Australian Seniors Championship and regularly finishing inside the top ten.

His selection in the Australian team for the Asia Pacific Championships in December capped a memorable 12 months.

Third place and the bronze medal went to popular NSW golfer Denis Dale who was also consistent all year with a win in the Grange Seniors and a top ten in every event contested.

Dale had won the gold medal in 2006 and 2007 before being runner up in 2008.

Donohoe wins Women’s Senior Medal

The NSW south coast dominated the women’s senior ranking with the recently crowned Australian Senior Amateur Champion Sylvia Donohoe from Narooma taking the top title.

Lynne Townsend from Wollongong was second while Queenslander Josie Ryan from the Headland club took third.

The Super Senior Section, for players aged 65 years and over, also went to Queenslanders, in Fay Payne and Ian Read.

AUSTRALIA has officially moved to adopt the US golf handicap system.

The move was expected following the recent announcement of the adoption of the USGA Scratch Course Rating System, with which it largely goes hand in hand.

The Board of Golf Australia says it has resolved to open discussions with the United States Golf Association about adopting the USGA Handicap System in Australia.

This decision was made immediately following a State Forum at which each State Association expressed the view that the USGA Handicap System provides the best way forward for Australian golf.

Since Golf Australia’s formation in 2006, a unified handicapping system for men and women has been one of the organisation’s key objectives. GA says the USGA Handicap System will not only deliver a series of notable improvements to Australian handicapping, it will also finally realise this goal.

Golf Australia Chairman Anne Lenagan explained the challenge which Golf Australia has been debating for the past three years:

“Right from the outset, we knew we were going to have to commit money either to making overdue amendments to our current systems or on implementing a new system.

“We wont have to worry about re-inventing the wheel..”

“We weighed up continuing to invest in our unique method against implementing a system that’s widely in place around the world, and the arguments just kept coming down in favour of the USGA System.

“Once the system is in place, the significant ongoing research and development costs will be borne by the USGA. We won’t have to worry about re-inventing the wheel; we can dedicate those resources to working with the State Associations on developing other components of the game instead.

“It is important to note that we’re not there just yet. We still need to work a few things through with the USGA however given the significance of this and the degree of discussion it has generated, Golf Australia felt it was important to provide a clear update for the golfing community.

“Does Golf Australia want to adopt the USGA Handicap System? The answer is absolutely yes. Does Golf Australia want to make a few minor modifications to the system to have it better reflect the typical characteristics of Australian golf? Yes. Have other countries been able to secure similar modifications? Yes.

“Now we’ve decided exactly what we want, we can have the discussions with the USGA. We don’t anticipate these discussions turning up any significant issues, but there’s still an endpoint to be reached.

“This is something we are really excited about…”

“I’d like to add that this is something we’re really excited about. We’ve spent the last three years having a dialogue with not just State Associations, golf clubs and individual golfers, but also Golf Management Australia, Golf Link, the media, and any other party that’s shown a desire to have a discussion or express a view on the direction of handicapping in Australia.

“However, the time has come to make a choice and we’re delighted with where we’re heading.”

Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt, explained the three major differences that Australian golfers will experience with the new handicap system:

“Firstly, even if each course has an accurate Course Rating, non-expert players naturally require higher handicaps at difficult courses than they require at easier courses. This fact creates a fundamental problem with respect to the ‘portability’ of handicaps. The ‘Slope’ System provides a solution to this problem. A golfer using the USGA ‘Slope’ System converts their Handicap Index to a Course Handicap that is higher on more difficult courses, and lower on easier courses. For example, a player may play off 16 on an easy course and 21 on a difficult course.

Calculated from a rolling sample of your previous 20 scores

“Secondly, the USGA Handicap Index is calculated from a rolling sample of the player’s previous 20 scores. The calculation process involves averaging the best 10 of these 20 scores. The floating sample process is better-geared to producing a more contemporary handicap and one that better indicates a player’s potential than is achieved by the incremental adjustment method currently used in the Australian systems. Currently in Australia (where an outward increase can only occur in increments of 0.1), outward corrections take place at a rate that is far too slow and can be unfair on the player who has one ‘lucky’ round.

“And thirdly, the USGA system doesn’t have a daily rating component. We know that the difficulty of a specific golf course may vary due to changes in weather, climate, and course set-up. The problem has always been in arriving at a system which enjoys golf community-wide confidence and that will reliably produce ratings that are reflective of the actual difficulty of a golf course.

A lack of faith in the current system

“By its nature, there will always be unavoidable problems associated with using a statistical method to measure course difficulty. And our experience and continued feedback on CCR over a long period of time is that the benefits are unfortunately outweighed by the drawbacks. At the end of the day, the average golfer is still prone to lack faith in the concept of the daily course rating being determined by the performance of the field.

“And that doesn’t even touch on the small-field issue. For too long, women’s fields and country fields have been playing the role of the sacrificial lamb, and we just don’t think that’s an acceptable outcome.”

New Australian Golf Handicap System Begins on April 9, 2010 

Golf Handicap Changes Q & A Published March 19, 2010

GOLF Australia has announced Australia will adopt the United States Golf Association Course Rating System.

In a major announcement, the Golf Australia board also said it would be determining the future direction of the Australian Handicapping System (and CCR) following a state forum to be held at the end of April.

GA says the course rating decision follows a lengthy period of review and will see the existing Australian Women’s Course Rating System and Australian Men’s Course Rating System be replaced by the USGA Scratch Course Rating System.

The move has been called for by many in the industry and seems a certain step along the path to also accepting the US handicapping system, or something very similar.

In making the announcement, Golf Australia Chairman Anne Lenagan commented: “We’ve spent the past three years on a process which has involved inviting feedback and then listening to what everyone has to say. That’s meant having a dialogue with not just state associations, golf clubs and individual golfers, but also Golf Management Australia, Golf Link, the media, and any other party that’s shown a desire to engage on this issue.”

“This outcome is a genuine good-news story for the industry, and takes us further down the path of removing un-necessary inconsistencies between women’s and men’s handicapping in Australia.”

Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said Australian golfers could look forward to the benefits of the new system.

“The USGA Course Rating System is considered world’s best practice and is the result of significant financial and scientific investment. It is exciting that all Australian clubs and handicap players will now be exposed to the benefits experienced by most golfers around the world.”

Golf Management Australia President Max Mason said he was pleased with the new direction and the consistency it would bring.

“I applaud the initiative taken by Golf Australia in adopting the USGA Course Rating System that now applies in USA, Europe, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, much of Asia as well as our friends across the Tasman.   This system will greatly improve the relativity between all courses and provide greater consistency in the rating procedure.”

Golf Australia Handicapping & Course Rating Committee Chairman Ian Read, explained the finer points of the system:

“Fundamentally this will see the ‘actual measured length’ of a course being replaced by ‘effective playing length’, and that’s important because the course rating will now reflect what it is that the golfer encounters.  This means giving greater consideration to the factors we all know make such a difference.  And I’m talking about the obvious things such as roll, elevation, prevailing wind, altitude, and forced lay-ups caused by dog-legs and dams or streams, etc.  It really is a major step forward.

“We’ll also be putting a national training regimen in place to ensure the same approach is being exhibited by raters whether they be in Broome, or Cooktown, or Melbourne.  The review process strongly identified the inconsistent rating of courses as being a real problem so whichever way we went, we knew there was going to have to be a significant investment in training.  Now we’re able to tap into resources and processes the USGA has spent a lot of time and money in developing, so from a real-cost perspective the pieces fit together very nicely.”

Clubs will use the new scratch ratings immediately their course has been re-rated, with the implementation timetable being as follows:

Approximately 120 personnel to be trained throughout Australia between June and October 2009.  This will include the USGA conducting seminars in Australia in June.

September 2009, begin rating courses with an initial concentration on new and changed courses.

By the end of 2011 we expect that all courses will have been completed, with most metropolitan courses to be finished by the end of 2010.

See the USGA explain their system here.

GOLF AUSTRALIA has announced an immediate change making it easier for golfers to retain an official Australian Men’s Handicap.

Effective immediately, golfers now need only three or more “live scores” as at 1 January each year to retain their handicaps. The previous requirement was for five or more.

Golf Australia says the change brings the relevant Australian men’s and women’s regulations into line and is more consistent with international standards.

The move is part of a number of recent changes and part of an ongoing process of moving towards a single Golf Australia Handicapping & Course Rating System for both men and women.

Golf Australia says further important changes to the women’s and men’s Australian Handicapping Systems will be announced on Monday 2 March 2009.

“Live Scores” include official competition rounds played within the year but can now also include “Extra Day Scores”.

Golf Australia also recently released Explanatory Notes stipulating that “Extra Day Scores” will have the same capacity to amend a player’s handicap as a competition score.

The GA note states: “An Extra Day Score is any completed stroke round not in competition and may be returned on any day of the week. All Extra Day Scores must be returned on the course of an affiliated club and marked by any affiliated female or male golfer of any recognised golf club. If no WCCR/MCCR is available, the course AWCR/AMCR must be used in place of a CCR. (Note – A Committee is permitted to introduce a condition requiring players to nominate prior to playing that their round is to count as an Extra Day Score.)

Extra Day Scores will be accepted only for the purpose of obtaining an initial Australian Women’s/Men’s Handicap or to enable sufficient cards to maintain an Australian Women’s/Men’s Handicap (Extra Day

Scores may be used at any time of the year to enable a player to accrue a sufficient number of cards to maintain their Australian Women’s/Men’s Handicap). Extra Day scores WILL be used to adjust a player’s handicap.

The marker must be responsible for ensuring that the player conforms to the Golf Australia regulations, the Rules of Golf, and the Club’s Local Rules and By-Laws and that they play from the correct tees.”

Regarding the increase in the men’s maximum handicap, GA says that at the National Handicapping & Course Rating Forum held in Melbourne in August, there was widespread support for the maximum Australian Men’s Handicap being increased to 36.4.

The Golf Australia Handicapping & Course Rating Committee has adopted this recommendation and, together with several other changes, it is forecast for implementation on 1 April 2008.

GA says the reason these changes are being held back until this time is they require changes to Golf Link and need to be managed accordingly.

More encouragement for top Australian male “Super Senior” Golfers (65+) and the introduction of a National Order of Merit for Australia’s senior women amateur golfers are among recently announced changes to the sport.

The men’s Order of Merit competition has been expanded to include a full set of medals for the 65 and over players and medals will now be awarded to the top three golfers in this age group.

In addition, a Super Senior Matchplay Championship for the over 65 group will be played at the same time as the Australian Senior Matchplay Championship. A field of 8 players will contest the event in 2009 which will be played at Barwon Heads Golf Club.
Among other changes Golf Australia announced for new Australian Amateur Ranking Systems was the introduction of a National Order of Merit for Australia’s senior women amateur golfers.
The system used for this competition will be the same as that for senior men, with every event played used in calculating an average points score. The minimum divisor for senior women in this introductory year is 4 events.
The first event recorded was the 2008 ACT Senior Women’s Championship and the current leader in the Women’s Order of Merit is Liz Smyth from the Royal Canberra Golf Club. She leads from Nicky Moon from Federal Golf Club and Chris Taylor also from Royal Canberra.

Golf Australia says new Amateur Ranking Systems now underway will provide players, as well as the industry, a great opportunity to monitor the movements in the standings across all age groups at the peak of men’s and women’s amateur golf.

For 2009, Australian Amateur Ranking Systems will be conducted in six categories – open men and women, boys’ and girls’ and senior men and senior women (55+).

The player with the highest points average at 31 October 2009 will be recognised as the winner of their respective Ranking System.

The Australian Amateur Ranking Systems are provided as a service to Australian golf as well as to achieve the following objectives:

• To replace the use of handicaps as the primary entry standard for national amateur championships. This will provide a fairer and better outcome for players, and Golf Australia encourages all other domestic operators of elite amateur events to consider adopting the same improved procedure.

• To be used as a supporting tool for team selection.

• To increase participation in the events which count towards a player’s Ranking Average.

Each System will be points-based, and will operate over a 12-month rolling period. All National Championships and each State’s Amateur Championships in the respective Systems will count towards a player’s average, in addition to various other major events nominated by the States, including those which have been National Ranking Events in the past.

Players’ points are determined by their finishing positions in each event and the events themselves will be weighted with the events traditionally attracting the strongest fields being awarded the most points.

Golf Australia says the Systems are sure to be highly competitive and will provide vast interest for amateur golfers of all ages and genders, in particular Girls’ and Senior Women where previously there has been no similar ranking system operating.

The Karrie Webb Series will continue to operate in conjunction with the Women’s Open Ranking System.

Full details.

See updated news and results of 2009 Championship

The 2009 Australian Men’s Mid Amateur Golf Championship, open to golfers aged 30 to 54 with a handicap less than 7.4, will be played from January 20 - 22 at The National Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria.

The 2008 event was a huge success with Victoria’s Jason Perry finishing strongly to take the title.

As Perry discovered, winning the championship gives a direct exemption to the Australian Open, and next year’s winner will have the opportunity to play in the 2009 Australian Open at the New South Wales Golf Club.

All three courses at the National Golf Club - The Old Course, Moonah and Ocean Courses - will be utillised for the 54 hole event in January.

Golf Australia says the National is a fantastic golfing facility and a one of its kind in Australia that will provide a fantastic challenge for players from all parts of the country.

Trevor Herden, Golf Australia Director of Championships, said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for the golfers in this demographic to test their skills against their peers over three championship courses at one of the best facilities in the country.”

What: 2009 Australian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship
When: 20 – 22 January 2009
Where: The National GC, Victoria
Format: 54 holes stroke play (max 120 players)
Courses: The Old Course, Moonah and Ocean Courses ( 1 round on each)
Handicap Limit: 7.4
Location: 10 The Cups Drive, Cape Schanck (Mornington Peninsula), Victoria
Entry Fee: $150.00 (on-line); or $170.00 (mail, fax, or e-mail)
Entries Open: 28 October 2008
Entry Close: 5 January 2009

Golf Australia Championship Entry Form

The current and four time Australian Women’s Senior Amateur Golf Champion, Sylvia Donohoe will be defending her title in Tasmania later this month.

The Australian Women’s Senior Amateur Championship and the Women’s Mid Amateur Golf Championships will both be held at the Ulverstone Golf Club in Ulverstone.

Golf Australia says strong fields have assembled for both events, with the extended entry period closing this Friday October 3.

Joining Donohoe (NSW) on the trek to Tasmania will be last year’s runner-up Deirdre Brander.

Other contenders include Sue Wooster, Helen Stewart, Ros Fisher and Lynne Townsend.

The Australian Women’s Mid Amateur Championship is in its second year and the field is also looking strong, with 2007 Champion Julie Swanson from NSW looking to defend her title.

Julie’s likely rivals include Gemma Dooley and Kim Burke. 

Entry Forms and other details can be found the Golf Australia website here.

Australian Women ‘s Senior Amateur

When: 27-31 October 2008
Where: Ulverstone Golf Club, Ulverstone, Tasmania
Format: 36 holes stroke play followed by match play
Handicap Limit: 22.4
Age: 55 years and over
Club website: Ulverstone Golf Club
Location: Lobster Creek Road, ULVERSTONE TAS 7315
Entry Fee: $85.00
Entry Close: Entries extended to 3 October 2008

Australian Women’s Mid Amateur Championship

What: 2008 Australian Women’s Mid Amateur Championship
When: 27-29 October 2008
Where: Ulverstone Golf Club, Ulverstone, Tasmania
Format: 54 holes stroke play
Handicap Limit: 18.4
Age: Between 30 and 54 years
Club website: Ulverstone Golf Club
Location: Lobster Creek Road, ULVERSTONE TAS 7315
Entry Fee: $85.00
Entry Close: Entries extended to 3 October 2008

QUEENSLANDER Stephen Pitt has been named as the new chief executive of Golf Australia.

Pitt is an experienced sports administrator and was selected from more than 160 applicants after the resignation of former CEO Tony Hallam in June.

As CEO of Golf Queensland for the past two and a half years, Pitt played a key role in the successful merging of the Queensland Golf Union and Women’s Golf Queensland.

Pitt, a 10-handicapper at Brisbane Golf Club, was previously CEO of Athletics Queensland for five years and has also worked in marketing roles for the Queensland Olympic Council and Surf Lifesaving Queensland.

“I’m very excited about the appointment, which gives me an opportunity to make a contribution to the game in Australia,” Pitt said. “I’m disappointed to be leaving Golf Queensland, but this is a chance to take a step forward.”

Golf Australia chairman Anne Lenagan said Pitt was the ideal person to lead the organisation into the future.

“After an extensive search, we believe his experience in sports administration and marketing makes Stephen the ideal appointment,” she said.

Pitt will formally begin his position in early November.